The Cainite Order

CHAPTER 2

JEDES LICHT IST NICHT DIE SONNE

CHAPTER 2

"Every light is not the sun."

Floating in the blackness was so comforting< as if nothing bad had ever happened in existence. Drifting through the Ether. Feeling no pain, mental or physical. Feeling freedom that he had never felt before in all his life Beathen began to wonder.

"Why am I not in pain? Why doesnt my arm hurt? Was that all a dream? Am I still dreaming? That had to be a dream; there is no way an old woman could do that! And that Bear thing? That definitely wasn't real. What the hell did I eat?" He reasoned to himself.

"Of course it was real dear." An oddly familiar voice immediately grabbed all his attention.

"Who ar" before he can finish the thought Beathen knows exactly who she is. "Mom"!

"Hello Sweetheart, it's been too long. Your Father and I have missed you so much."

"But you're both..."

"Dead. Yes dear, I know. That's not important."

"Not important! I just got attacked by a giant bear thing, saved by my elderly Great aunt, and now I'm having a conversation with my long dead mother. When is this going to BE more important?!" he exclaimed.

"Hysterics are not going to help you right now honey. Your life is about to change dramatically. You have some tough choices ahead. You can go back and see just how strange our world really is. Or... well you would be with your father and me again." she reluctantly explained.

"WAIT! Are you saying that I'm FUCKING DEAD!" he exclaimed.

"No. Well not yet anyway. This is the part where you choose. Do you go on living in an increasingly strange and dangerous world, or do you want to start over?" she questioned gliding her hand over his cheek trying to comfort him like she did when he was a baby.

"Ok, so now you're telling me that I can choose if I want to die! I mean thanks for letting me make the choice, but I am definitely NOT ready to DIE"! Beathen exclaimed taking a step back. Little by little he began to notice that his mother is not alone, nor is she in complete darkness. The two figures with his mother are a male and a female. Even as their details began to flood his vision they all begin to fade from view. "Wait! MOM! Don't GO! I have so many questions! Who are those people? What's going on? Don't leave me again!"

Drifting back into nothingness he saw her lips moving but all he could make out was "I Love You".

...

"Bout time ye started to come around. We were beginning to think Charon was going ta make you wander a hundred years before we could get at ye. Or did I win the bet and 'twas a Hound o Annwn?" a familiar gruff voice questioned. As sense began to slowly come back, he felt a strong hand holding him back on a semi-comfortable bed. "Now don't go movin' too much yet lad. Ya took quite a beating, but we got ya patched up now."

"Oowh! Wait, we who? Rory?" Beathen choked thru a dry cracked throat.

"Ruaraidh boy, it's pronounced ROOR-ry. I know pronunciation is something you're fond of BAY-THaN, Ha ha." he chuckled, self-satisfied as he poured Beathen a glass of water which was quickly swallowed.

"It's Beh-UN" he chortled painfully as he took in his companions visage. He was smaller than Beathen had remembered. A rectangular face with weathered features stared back at him thru a massive beard. Unlike most people Beathen had seen with beards this one was exquisitely maintained and braided with several types of beads woven in. Some were different metals and it looked like at least one was bone?!